Stark County, Ohio, residents mourn death of Mike McDonald

By Laurie HuffmanThe ReviewPublished: February 26, 2013 3:00AM

One week ago today, law enforcement officers from around Stark County recognized Mike McDonald as the Stark County Deputy of the Year, honoring his more than 30 years of dedication to the county's residents. Today, his co-workers and family will gather for a very different reason; sadly, it will be for his funeral. County citizens join together as they mourn the death of McDonald, who said he "felt very healthy" during his political campaign in November. McDonald had been struggling as he battled health issues for the past year or two, and, at age 54, he died at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday.

McDonald, who resided in Louisville, served the public for more than three decades during a career in law enforcement that began when he was hired at the sheriff's department as a deputy at the young age of 18. He went on to work in almost every division in the department, was promoted to sergeant, then lieutenant, captain, major and chief deputy, until he was elected as sheriff in November 2012. McDonald was in remission when he ran for and earned the position, but was unable to assume the office on Jan. 7 due to the fact he had suffered a relapse in his health just prior to that date.

McDonald graduated from Louisville High School in 1976 and from the Northwestern University of Police Staff and Command in 1998. He was hired at the Stark County Sheriff's Office as a full-time employee in 1981, rising to a rank that put him in charge of the entire jail division, an operation complete with 501 inmate beds.

Major Brian Arnold, who worked alongside McDonald for decades, said McDonald always had the public's interest in mind, which is why he became "the face" of the sales tax campaign, conducting seemingly endless amounts of jailhouse tours to show the public how huge the jail was, how much responsibility it demanded to run it, and how thinly it was staffed at the time.

"This is the best I've ever felt," McDonald stated while campaigning for sheriff. But by the time the election came around he had lost weight, and after previously losing his hair from more than one round of cancer treatments, he no longer appeared in peak health. McDonald was diagnosed in 2011 with esophageal cancer, but he believed all along he was beating the disease. And reports indicate it was not cancer, but a new, very aggressive and fatal disease that actually took his life.

While he fought for his survival, he continued fighting for the jail inmates, following his passion for helping others. His concern for the inmates is what inspired him to run for sheriff, and is also what spurred him, with the help of Arnold, to begin a recovery program in 1996 for repeat offenders who suffer from alcohol and drug addictions. The program is still in place, and, when measured last, in 2009, only 9.8 percent of those who participated in the program ever returned to jail for drug- or alcohol-related charges.

"He cared very much about the people he served," Arnold closed.

Calling hours were held for McDonald on Monday evening at the Canton Civic Center, and funeral services will be conducted at St. Louis Catholic Church in Louisville at 10 a.m. today.